If you have a few seconds...

in general, this thread is about members who confuse freedom of speech with freedom to condescend whoever they feel is lower than them. call my feelings paper-thin, call me a baby, call me what you want but i personally am trying to be less and less rude and cutting with my remarks, and saving my sarcasm for those who understand the light-hearted demeanor behind it. simply put, some people drive like the road is designed for them and everyone else is "in the way", some people actually respect the other drivers. best of luck to both sides.

Best advice?

Never take ANY advice from a website \ forum \ place. Especially if you are vulnerable or really need help. There are professionals out there. And they sure as hell aren't on the places YOU are on.

I enjoy LPSG, read well, nod and agree at some posts, shake my head and sigh at others. This is great entertainment, but people here aren't real, aren't true, and you can never know who they are.

So have fun, stay safe, and don't get too pissed by the things you see.

Is it even necessary to point out that things like straight, bisexual, black and muslim aren't species and thus the argument that the study of species relies heavily on stereotype is thus unrelated bullshit? Or did everybody in their right mind disregard that argument already?

And lest we forget that claiming you belong to a certain ilk of people automatically places you under the stereotypes set upon that group. Every man who comes out of the closet is only doing it because they want rainbow speedos. No, it's not at all the fault of those outside the group who perpetuate the stereotypes and sling essentially unfounded insults. The recipient is always to blame.
(Funny... This way of thinking is the creed of the antagonists' group in the novel I'm writing.)

Sorry, but human beings are capable of looking beyond stereotypes. We may have certain expectations of a person or questions for them when we find out about a certain alignment, but that doesn't mean that we're incapable of seeing beyond those labels as a whole. It's one of the many wonderful things about free will and conscious thought. We can override instincts, even those artificially instilled in us.

Ohhh, one thing that always lights my ring is freedom of speech on forums. There is no such thing. Someone owns this place, and they can choose to get rid of anything they want to.

Freedom of speech and expression is absolutely vital, but you can't find it on the internet, 'cos the internet is made up of little bits of people's property.

*pant*pant*pant*

Sorry. Always have to post that at the freedom of speech bit ;)

and if your kicks come from being cutting and derisive and the right to do so, then i wish you the best of luck

Oh for Fuck sake get down off the fucking cross will you whiny cunt. Someone else needs the wood.

i was more trying to illustrate the practices of people who are disrespectful and rude and say "hey i have the right to say what i want, freedom of speech"

Hazelgod,

You seem to delight in using your intelligence (which is quite considerable) to steamroll over those who may not be able to keep up with you or perhaps may be sensitive and not appreciate being called "douchebags" for opinions that dont agree with your own. I have on many occasions enjoyed your comments and the passion with which you have delivered them. But LPSG is not just for those who can mow other members down with their own considerable command of the english language. It is supposed to be a SUPPORT GROUP. I was not necessarily talking to you but it seems the comment hit its mark.
Many of you may not like the way the Moderator's do their jobs but while quick to decry how slowly we respond to the many vitriolic reports of other members' bad behavior there is a tendency to over look one's own contributions.
I can not make adults behave as I would. But I can let you all know that if you want LPSG to be a place you can enjoy, please think before you continue to rip it apart brick by brick with your comments. Marley can only speak for himself. YOu can chose to listen or not.

what don't you understand about PMing an apology someone you were rude to?? if anything, consider it asshole rehabilitation.

hi...


my name is marleyisalegend....



i used to be an asshole......

For the time being, I'm going to close this thread to give people time to cool off. I have just one thing to say--
Even though this is the internet, proper rules of decorum still apply. If you wouldn't talk to someone in public in a certain manner, then you shouldn't do it here. You don't have to agree with everyone, but you have to respect them. Moreover, if you can't handle someone badmouthing you, then you shouldn't do it to others. You all have to be 18 to be a member here, please act like you're adults.

Seconded.

Anyone who posts an opinion should be prepared for that opinion to be challenged or seconded. There is no freedom from the thoughts of others on a board where you voluntarily share your opinions.

Here is the problem: with the volume of postings on the board, there is no way for any moderating team to effectively, efficiently and equitably police the board for "nastiness." And what IS nastiness anyway? Just because you say something nicely does not mean you are being nice or saying something nice. People confuse disagreement with dislike and agreement with support. Those words are not synonymous.

Those who can have and enjoy a good debate/argument (with an occasional insult) should not be relegated to not posting or carefully editing their postings because some people like to enjoy a unidirectional freedom of speech. Some of the most thught-provoking threads have been our heated debated about religion, orientation, discrimination, etc. That rich discourse can only happen when people feel free to speak openly. And that freedom to speak cannot be couched in feeling "protected" from dissenting opinions.

Forgive me, but I was raised to NOT dumb-down my conversation and debate.

People need to take responsibility for their own enjoyment of the board (disengage, take a break, use the ignore feature, learn to accept disagreement and dissenting opinion),as they need to; it would go a long way towards helping the board. The moderator actions (e.g., jumping in when people feel victimized) serve only to enable people's learned helplessness, not empower them to participate in conversation, discussion, and debate.

Do children ever learn to solve disagreements if mommy and daddy are always run to for intervention? All the actions have done is teach people to run to you when there is a perceived problem.

And I totally disagree with the assertion that I have to respect everyone unilaterally. That is complete nonsense. Respect is earned, not freely given. There are plenty of people here and in real life who have not earned my respect (or who have lost it).

Cheers Phil!

I work with taxonomy, folksonomy, data typing, prototyping, type casting, and many other methods of classification on a daily basis. As an Objectivist, I also see things in a different light than most folks--I stereotype all the time.